The Higher Education Quality Council of Turkey (THEQC) was founded as part of the 'Higher Education Quality Assurance Regulation' that entered in force upon its publication in the Official Gazette No. 29423 of 23 July 2015. The Council was reorganized according to the Additional Article No. 35 added to the Law No. 2547 on Higher Education following the enactment of the Law No. 7033 on Amendment of Certain Laws and Executive Orders for the Development of Industrial Zones and Subsidization of Production on 1 July 2017.

The THEQC is a public legal entity with administrative and financial autonomy and special budget founded with the aim of evaluating the quality levels of higher education institutions’ education and research activities and administrative services in accordance with the national and international quality standards, and coordinating the processes of accreditation, internal and external quality assurance, and authorization of independent external evaluation organizations.

Council of Higher Education (CoHE) is responsible for the assessment and recognition of foreign qualifications in Associate’s, Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees. The Department of Recognition and Equivalence Services of CoHE deals with recognition queries in these degrees.

On the other hand, The Inter-University Council evaluates Ph.D. Degrees from abroad.

The Ministry of National Education is responsible for the recognition process of primary, secondary and high school education.

A national Diploma Supplement template was formed in line with the model recommended jointly by the European Commission, the Council of Europe and UNESCO/CEPES. It is therefore compatible with the UNESCO/CoE/EC template. An office in the CoHE was charged with checking the compatibiilty of Diploma Supplement samples from HEIs with the national template, and giving technical assistance. The Diploma Supplement has been mandatory at all higher education institutions since the end of the 2005-2006 academic year, by decision of CoHE dated March 11, 2005. Diploma Supplements that include ECTS credits are issued to students upon graduation, in English, German or French, upon request, the first copy being free of charge.

Refuge-like Populations’ Access and Participation to Higher Education is mainly coordinated by CoHE. The number of refugees-like persons in Turkey has reached over 3.4 million, including Syrians, Iraqis, Afghans, Somalians and other nationalities. Over 3.3 registered Syrians are under a temporary protection regime granting them a legal temporary protection status based on Law on Foreigners and International Protection (LFIP) and Temporary Protection Regulation (TPR). For details see:

www.goc.gov.tr

As the central policy maker setting the main legal and institutional framework, CoHE requires and coordinates all HEI’s efforts to improve the participation of refugee students, researchers and scholars. In 2013 CoHE regulated the transfer process from Syria and Egypt Universities (later extended to Yemen) to Turkish HEIs at all class level including the first and the last with requisite paperwork. Additionally, students without documents were directed to selected state universities to be enrolled as “special students”. In 2014 the right to apply as “special student” enlarged to all universities. After transferring to Turkish HEIs validation of documents, transfer and recognition of qualifications and gained competences; with required documents are evaluated by ad-hoc Recognition Committees established by the HEI’s within the faculties.

For Recognition and Equivalence of Foreign Higher Education Diplomas and Degree procedures are carried out by the Council of Higher Education (CoHE). The applicants are required to apply with the documents required for application in accordance with the Regulations on Recognition and Equivalence of Foreign Diplomas.please see: https://denklik.yok.gov.tr/

Decision dd. 18/01/2017 on “Recognition and equivalence application processes for those from countries under war, invasion and annexation conditions” of CoHE introduced procedures for those who are not able to submit diplomas, transcripts and/or any documents proving their level of education.  It has been decided that: “Equivalence applications of those who have conditions of war, annexation and/or occupation in their countries, thus are not able to submit diplomas or transcripts or copies of these documents, and/or any documents showing their level of educational will be carried out by the commissions under a number of universities in Turkey selected for the determination/confirmation of the applicants’ level of education/graduation and concerned have graduated and be subject to the Level and Proficiency Identification procedures”. These countries are listed as Syria, Iraq, Libya, Yemen, Palestine, Somalia, Southern Sudan and Crimea.

Those who have applied to CoHE for the equivalence of diplomas/degrees received from the countries/territories with ongoing war, annexation and occupation conditions and who are not able to submit original/copy of the diplomas or transcripts, documents showing proof of education/graduation or missing documents are requested to fill in the declaration form (Turkish - English) including their identification, temporary protection identity documents, residence permits, etc. and information about their education and apply to the CoHE in person or by means of a legal representative. For details latest announcements see: https://denklik.yok.gov.tr/